Newsroom
OSCE Mission sponsors new office in Belgrade to help fight against trans-national crime
BELGRADE 18 July 2005
BELGRADE, 18 July 2005 - The South East European Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG) today opened its Secretariat in Belgrade to help prosecutors in the region fight against trans-national crime, including human trafficking.
The establishment of the Secretariat was made possible through a donor agreement with the Serbian Ministry of Justice by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro and the U.S. Department of Justice's Resident Legal Advisors' Offices at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.
Signing the document on behalf of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, the Deputy Head of Mission Douglas Wake emphasised the importance of a regional approach to combating organised crime.
"Only through regional co-operation will the countries in South East Europe be able to combat organised crime and prove their commitment to the rule of law which is key to Euro-Atlantic integration," he said.
SEEPAG is a multinational mechanism that facilitates better co-operation among prosecutors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and Turkey.
Working in close coordination with the SECI Regional Center for Combating Trans-border Crime, SEEPAG strengthens the ability of police, customs officials and prosecutors in the region to handle international cases.
The establishment of the Secretariat was made possible through a donor agreement with the Serbian Ministry of Justice by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro and the U.S. Department of Justice's Resident Legal Advisors' Offices at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.
Signing the document on behalf of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, the Deputy Head of Mission Douglas Wake emphasised the importance of a regional approach to combating organised crime.
"Only through regional co-operation will the countries in South East Europe be able to combat organised crime and prove their commitment to the rule of law which is key to Euro-Atlantic integration," he said.
SEEPAG is a multinational mechanism that facilitates better co-operation among prosecutors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and Turkey.
Working in close coordination with the SECI Regional Center for Combating Trans-border Crime, SEEPAG strengthens the ability of police, customs officials and prosecutors in the region to handle international cases.